NEWSLETTER 2010/11 CWS

OFFICE HOLDERS AND COMMITTEE

Mr Richard (Dick) Griffiths Patron

Mr Adam Lowe Vice-Patron

Mr Alfred On OAM Vice-Patron

Mr Austin Chin President

Mr Daryl Chin Vice President

Ms Jan MacPherson General Secretary

Mr Roland Chin Treasurer

Mr Daniel Chow

Chinese Secretary

Committee Members Andrew Chin Dennis Low

Desmond Yuen Jade Sham Joel Tinley Michael Lui

Natasha Yuen Nathan Tam Randall Chin Richard Quan Roger Lowe Tiffany Chin Tina Griffiths

Tanya Fong Lim Warren Wong

Temple Officer

Dennis Low

Temple Caretaker Paul Ho

Public Officer

Jan Macpherson

Community Support Worker

Mrs Susan Lay

Auditor Mr John Hetherington

May 2011

FROM THE BOARDROOM Temple Affairs – A motion was passed by the Management Committee that the Temple Affairs Committee will now be able to provide an honourium to volunteers for undertaking duties of the Temple Caretaker when that employee is on leave. It would be up to the discretion of this Subcommittee as to when they consider it appropriate to do so. Building – Andrew has organised the Bodhai Tree to be trimmed on Saturday 28/5/2011 starting at 8 am. The renumbering of carparks has already commenced as well as repainting of all existing signage in the Chung Wah grounds. Thank you Andrew for all your dedication and commitment to the upkeep of the buildings, grounds and maintenance on behalf of this Society. Museum – Volunteers are urgently required. Please contact Richard or Adam on museum@chungwahnt.asn.au. Youth –. Tiffany has been provided with a few suggestions so is now working on dates and types of events to hold. The Lion Dance Troupe coordinators/members have offered their support to any events that this subcommittee organises. Seniors – By the time this newsletter has been published the Big Morning Tea will have been held on Friday 27/5/2011 so we look forward to hearing how successful this has been. Each year the Seniors raise money for the Cancer Council. If you have missed this occasion and still wish to donate to this worthy cause please contact Austin or Melanie. Lion Dance – Nathan, Joel and Warren provided a detailed report on the participation of the Lion Dance Troupe/Jade Dragon Dancers at the Bendigo Spring Festival held over the Easter weekend. Special articles are provided in this newsletter. We as members of this Society are proud of their achievements and congratulate all members/spectators from this Society who participated and attended this Festival. Membership – Membership continues to grow with 2 new memberships being accepted this month by the Management Committee. Please email your ideas to admin@chungwahnt.asn.au for consideration to encourage further growth in membership. Newsletter – This Committee is always seeking articles for the monthly newsletter so please email your article to admin@chungwahnt.asn.au. We would love to share your news with the Chung Wah Society community. If you wish to have your newsletters emailed rather than posted please email newsletter@chungwahnt.asn.au

Jade, Camille, Marie-Louise & Optus, Roger and Tash work as a team to produce the final product, namely, Chung Wah Society monthly newsletter. Thank you team. Carparking – For all enquiries and concerns relating to carparking at Chung Wah please email carparking@chungwahnt.asn.au. Your emails will be attended to promptly by this subcommittee.

Cont. P2

CARPARKING Thanks to the efforts of Andrew, by the time you read this Newsletter, some of the Parking Bays will have been renumbered. As the 2011 end of financial year approaches, renewals for Carparking will be sent out shortly. As a reminder, your Carparking renewal fee must be paid in full by the due date, as indicated on the renewal form.

MEMBERSHIP With the 2011 end of financial year approaching, Membership renewal forms will be sent out to all Members shortly. If you were not aware, Memberships are now available for 1, 2 or 3 years at the advertised rates and are applicable to FULL and ASSOCIATE Memberships - The types of membership available are: * Family $50-00 per year includes Main member, spouse/partner and dependant children under 18 * Couple $40-00 per year includes Main member, spouse/partner residing at the same address * Single $25-00 per year applicants 18 and over without dependants * Concession Couple $30-00 per year where the Main member is 60 and over * Concession Single $15-00 per year persons over 18 who are full time students; Senior Citizens 60 and over * Junior Single $7-50 per year single persons under 18 without Family Membership cover

Cont. P1 CWS Computer – Please browse the website www.chungwahnt.asn.au to obtain the latest information on Chung Wah Society activities. Royal Darwin Show Sartee Stall - Richard is coordinating the preparations prior to the Show Day which will be held on Thursday 21/7/2011 to Saturday 23/7/2011. If you are able to offer your services in any way for this Society’s major fundraising event please contact Richard on his mobile: 0412 613 055. Michael Lui is Richard’s understudy so that this annual fundraising can continue on for many years. For all the important dates to note on your calendar please read Richard’s timeline of events in this newsletter and our June edition as all preparation activities are scheduled to happen in July. Moon Festival will be held on Saturday, 17 September 2011. Preparations for this annual event will now begin. Annual General Meeting date has been set for Sunday 30/10/2011 at 10 am.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS We are looking for volunteers to help to pressure clean the Tennis Court surface and any other jobs that may be required to maintain the CWS Tennis Court area. If you can spare a couple of hours to help out, it would be most welcomed and appreciated. Please ring Des on 0401 112 110 if up can help.

TIMELINE FOR DARWIN SHOW SARTEE PROJECT. Sunday 10th July 2011 – Meat Cutters start at CWS at 08:00am

Meat Skewers start at 09:00am Sunday 17th July 201i – Loading of Trailer with equipment to go to Show – CWS 09:00am. Tuesday 19th July 2011 – Pick up of vegetables . Wednesday 20th July 2011 – Chopping up of vegies - Seniors in morning – other volunteers/committee to turn up at 4:30pm to finish chopping. Wednesday 20th July 2011 – Setting up of Sartee Stall at Showground – Quey Chin plus setting–up team. Thursday 21st July 2011 – First Day of Show – Roster – see Mim and Tiffany Chin Friday 22nd July 2011 – Second Day of Show – Roster - “ “ “ “ “ Saturday 23rd July 2011 – Last day of Show - “ “ “ “ “ “ Sunday 24th July 2011 – Clean up Day – meet at Showground 09:00am – gear back to CWS for clean up and stowage ready for next year.

If you have any enquiries, please call Richard on: 0412 613 055

Chung Wah Society Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe

BRINGING THE NOISE ON THE ROAD TO BENDIGO 2011

By Courtney Chin (Lion Dance Troupe, Jade Dragons) and

Bradley Yuen (Lion Dance Troupe) On the 22nd of April 2011, the Chung Wah Society Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe travelled to Bendigo to participate in the Easter Festival. A group of about 20 went down, accompanied by families and other members of the society. After arriving in Bendigo we went to a dinner held by the Bendigo Chinese Association. Here, we met other lion dancers from around Australia, including Bendigo, Melbourne, Canberra and Cairns. The dinner was followed by a quick last minute practice with new equipment before heading back to our motel to get some rest. On Saturday morning, the Spring Festival was held where the CWS Jade Dragons performed their Iron Fan Dance, amongst many other dance groups present on the day. It was a great opportunity for the girls to see other folk dances and how they presented themselves on stage. Later on in the afternoon, the Awakening of the Dragon ceremony was held. All of the Lion Dance teams performed, including some of their Dragon Dance teams. It was an amazing opportunity to watch other lion and dragon dance teams perform, the crowd was booming and the millions of firecrackers being let off added to the incredible atmosphere. Right after the Awakening, the troupe and family members got busy preparing for the Torchlight Procession, this included attaching lights onto the lion’s body by the CWS “parents sewing group” and making the troupe members and drum cart “light up” with glow sticks. The night parade was a success, however, an unconscious “frog” was found on the drum cart for the whole duration of the Torchlight Procession. The Gala parade was held on Sunday, where Sun Loong, the longest imperial dragon in the world, comes out once a year. That afternoon, the troupe attended a lion and dragon dance workshop held by the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne. Here, we learnt and exchanged knowledge and techniques about lion and dragon dance which made us more aware of the customs of lion and dragon . The next day, the troupe participated in the ANZAC Day Tribute, where the teams performed and presented a scroll to veterans. Following the performance, we made our way back to Melbourne, where we went to dinner with the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne and Hung Gar Yau Shu and were given a quick tour of Melbourne city. We were invited to visit the CYSM clubhouse where we saw their lions, dragons, club history and equipment they used. On Tuesday, we sadly left Melbourne, arriving back in Darwin, and being disappointed that we had to return to school and work the next day. The trip was an amazing opportunity to learn more about Lion Dance and Chinese culture. We made many good friends from around Australia which we hope to see soon. The Bendigo trip was a ‘sicc’ experience and we thank everyone for the support they have shown the CWS Lion Dance troupe. We’re already looking forward to the next trip…..whenever that may be!

CWS GROUPIES INVADE BENDIGO 2011 By -

Groupies Kerri Small, Bronwyn Lo and families (part of the 60+ CWS entourage)

So, how was Bendigo? It was AWESOME! Where do we start...........after months of planning and anticipation, the 2011 Easter Festival in Bendigo, Victoria, certainly went off with a bang (300,000 of them in fact!) Darwin ‘Groupies’ in support of the CWS Troupe descended upon Bendigo, via planes, trains and automobiles, along with several thousands of other locals and tourists. What an overwhelming feeling of energy, excitement and enthusiasm to be amongst other fellow Aussies of all backgrounds embracing our Chinese culture. Even more astounding was our feeling of pride and joy to witness such a spectacular performance by our youngsters, supported by the tireless efforts of the trainers and organisers of the CWS Troupe. Thank you, Nathan, Warren, Kathleen, Eli, Joel, Rochelle, David (all the way from KK) and other valuable support crew. After months of hard work it showed that the dedication, discipline, and sacrifices made by all involved truly paid off as they were incredibly focussed and wore the CWS colours with pride. A big congrats to the Troupe – The Lion Dancers, Musicians, Jade Dragons and Thunder Drummers - well done! As parents of children in the Junior Troupe it was wonderful for us all to see what potential the future holds for our up and coming performers, what excellent role models we have at Chung Wah. Bendigo welcomed us with open arms and we felt a part of their large community, as did Cairns (Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc), Canberra (Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance) and the two Melbourne Troupes CYSM (Chinese Youth Society Melbourne) and HGYS (Hung Gar Yau Shu). All teams gave outstanding performances and thrilled the crowds with their skill and ‘A Class Acts’. Other artists such as dancers, opera singers and martial artists also entertained us, and who could forget the Torchlight and Gala parades with the annual awakening of Sun Loong. Such a great variety of talent snowballed into one huge weekend. Our experience at the Bendigo Easter Festival was made even more special thanks to Russell and Anita Jack and the Bendigo Chinese Association. We had the privilege of attending a spit roast Welcome Dinner on the first night and enjoyed several other light meals (pies anyone?) throughout the weekend. Without a doubt our top tourist highlight was a guided tour through the Dai Gum San Golden Dragon Museum, very impressive indeed. All in all it was a fantastic time had by all and we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a Society that proudly flew the NT flag. Our Troupe really mixed it up with the best of them and definitely held their own. We will be keeping our ears close to the ground awaiting the whisper of when the next CWS Tour of Duty will be – BRING IT ON GUYS, you have our support in every way and your ‘Red Shirt Groupies’ will be right there with you cheering you on. Thank you all again for an unforgettable weekend in Bendigo.

MEMBERS’ SERVICE DIRECTORY

If you have a service or skill that may be useful to other members of Chung Wah, please email your details to jade@chungwahnt.asn.au

Chung Wah Society is providing this directory to you as a convenience, and does not endorse any services offered by these operators.

Contact us at:

admin@chungwahnt.asn.au

Name Company Contact Details Service

Marie Chin Reiki M 0401 349 649 B 8941 9917

Ki /Chi energy healing

Kym Handberg ETS AUSTRALIA B 8948 0970 E etsaustralia@bigpond.com W www.etsaustralia.org

Migration and education consultancy services

Frank Schembri United Realty NT M 0425 254 641 B 8981 2666 E frank@unitedrealtynt.com

Real estate sales and property management

JADE DRAGONS – EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Calling all girls and boys interested in training with the Jade Dragon’s dance group. Jade Dragon’s currently train at the Hall from 1.30pm to 2.30pm on Saturday’s. If you are interested or would like more information about the group please contact Chantelle on T: 0402221339 or E: chantelle888@hotmail.com